The Croatian authorities are using EMSA’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) to boost their coast guard functions, as to monitor vessel traffic, conduct search and rescue procedures and detection and monitoring of marine pollution.

The Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) has made important progress by entering its transitional phase (2019 – 2021) which will be managed and led by European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in close cooperation with the Member States.

Amid a growing tension between the US and Iran in the light of the two tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman last week, Iranian forces now have reportedly shut down a US military surveillance drone while flying over the Strait of Hormuz.

New technologies are rapidly entering the inspection era, adhering to the contextually digital transformation trends, while major classification societies are embracing the so-called Remote Inspection Techniques for class surveys. For those wondering the reasons why, safer and less intrusive surveys is the answer!

The North of England P&I Club informed of a recent incident in a US terminal which highlighted that, when a vessel is in port and something happens, there is a chance it has being caught on camera. A surveyor onboard a ship moored at a US terminal, fell from the stepladder when departing the vessel.

As part of the industry’s efforts to ensure higher ship standards, the International Group of P&I Clubs (IG Clubs) continues to implement survey triggers for seagoing vessels of 10 years of age or more carrying HFO, the American P&I Club reminded in a new circular.

DNV GL launched an artificial intelligence research centre in Shanghai, aiming to find solutions to improve its audit, inspection and survey services. DNV GL aims to develop new solutions based on AI technology, such as computer vision. The new research centre will grow up to eight staff by the end of 2019. In addition, blockchain has become a key technology to the company’s assurance operations.

All DNV GL-classed vessels are now able to utilize the possibility of remote surveys for some inspections. This means that a DNV GL surveyor will not be required to travel to the vessel, but can provide support by using an online connection or video streaming link, instead.

ABS published guidance notes on the use of remote inspection technologies, detailing best practices for their use on class surveys and non-class inspections. The guidance notes cover pilot-operated unmanned aerial vehicles, remotely operated underwater vehicles and robotic crawlers, collectively known as remote inspection technologies (RITS).

The Australian Royal Navy has deployed its Laser Airborne Depth Sounder (LADS) Flight to Invercargill in New Zealand, to undertake survey operations over Macquarie Island, a 34km long World Heritage listed island that lies approximately halfway between Australia and Antarctica.